Because I live in Jalisco, I am surrounded by mariachi music, Jalisco claiming the honour of being the home of mariachi. The history of mariachi may support that. The Spanish introduced violins, guitars, harps, brass instruments, and woodwinds to Mexico for use in Catholic mass, and eventually the church music expanded into the Mexican music form, son. The variety popular in the Jalisco area was called son jalisciense and many musicologists believe that modern mariachi music developed from this son style, with mariachi as an alternative name for son jalisciense. In this history, mariachi evolved from son jalisciense sometime during the 19th century in the town of Cocula, Jalisco.
Regardless of which town, or even which state, mariachi evolved in it is an ever-changing form of music which has spread worldwide and incorporated other forms as it spread – rock, blues, rap, jazz, flamenco, even the Beatles, and other Mexican music forms. The International Mariachi and Charro Festival held every August in Guadalajara showcases as many as 100 bands from over a dozen countries countries and attracts 10,000 people. And they play a range of mind-bending music.
A new mariachi that is, in my opinion, keeping the tradition and sound of mariachi, but adding other emotional and musical elements in unusual and very entertaining is from a band based not in Mexico, but in Los Angeles, the Las Chorizeras, a Mariachi Fusion ensemble. Among all of the mariachis experimenting with new forms, blends, etc. to me they stand out for their authenticity, innovation and just plain fun to listen to.
Las Chorizeras was founded by my friend, the super-talented Nancy Sanchez. Originally from Toluca Mexico – home of the best chorizo in Mexico, hence the name – Sanchez has music in blood from her musician father. She founded the band in 2022 with guitarrón player, Eunice Aparicio, violinist Anisettee Noperi, and vocalist and güiro percussionist Darlene Perez. Nancy plays the vihuela and sings and writes. The women in the band are all cross-cultural/bi-national.
The fact that Las Chorizeras is all female is, fortunately, no longer unusual. There are many all-female mariachis in Mexico and the US and the mariachi schools often have a slightly larger number of girls. Our own Escuela Mariachi de Pedro Reyes in Ajijic has a slight female majority, and the star singer is 13-year-old Amanda Enciso Jacbo, whose vocal range, power and maturity eclipses others. older singers, male or female.
What is unusual, is Las Chorizeras’s ability to blend mariachi with ballads, Latin alternative, and even a touch of American country, using the instruments of the mariachi in a mix best called Alternative Regional Mexican. This is so evident in their song “Pecadora” (Sinners), which blends Mexican elements with a clap-like beat, church bells, smoking violins, fast-moving rhythm guitar, and quick percussion changes in a song that is emotional, fascinating, irresistible, and fun. You could listen to it all day.
The same is true for their song, “Dispuesto a Amar” (Ready to Love), although the music is completely different -more of a ballad that sways along with a slow guitar strum and concert violins. The effect is a rich contrast that carries you with it. The beautiful vocals are feminine and strong, almost urgent. You instinctively close your eyes and follow the words like a rolling Mexican landscape.
Las Chorizeras have two songs on Spotify and are working on a self-titled EP. But they have been busy in the public eye. Las Chorizeras made their debut at the 2022 Los Angeles County Fair. They were also on the last chapter of season two of the Netflix series Lincoln Lawyer, and they perform in Los Angeles.
Their timing is good. Regional Mexican music is becoming Mexican music, no longer a subgenre. Mexican and bi-lingual music from Mexico is rising quickly in the US market. That, combined with the inherent popularity and growth of mariachi, means that Las Chorizeras are creating the right music at the right time. They are on the crest of a wave that is still building and they are building with it and pushing it forward. Another era in the evolution of Mexico’s national music.
